[cnn-photo-caption image= http://i.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2008/images/06/11/art.jim.ap.jpg caption="Jim Johnson is no longer involved in Obama's VP search."]
WASHINGTON (CNN) - A key member of Barack Obama's vice-presidential search team, James Johnson, is stepping down after criticism over a mortgage he received, the Obama campaign said.
"Jim did not want to distract in any way from the very important task of gathering information about my vice presidential nominee, so he has made a decision to step aside that I accept," the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee said in a statement.
Republicans had been hammering Johnson since the Wall Street Journal reported Saturday that he received a good deal on a mortgage from Countrywide due to his friendship with the company's CEO Angelo Mozilo. Obama has criticized Countrywide in connection with the subprime mortgage crisis.
WATCH Obama defend Johnson Tuesday
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Paging Charlie Black... hello Mr. Black, are you there??
Good move
another bad judgement that he's not responsible for?
This is so stupid. Johnson didn't do anything wrong. This sort of everyone who's perceived to get a good deal should resign is stupid. Pretty soon, there won't be any people left in these campaigns.
Stupid Republicans..
So unnecessary for him to have to step aside for receiving a mortgage, even if it was from company causing foreclosures. Most companies are causing foreclosures these days. I got a mortgage too, guess I should quit my job!
Obama/Clinton '08
Jim Johnson just got thrown under the bus boy its really crowded down there
Just another link in the Obama chain of BAD JUDGEMENT.
This is why we Hillary supporters cannot support Obama, not because of bitterness, race, or any other fabrication the Obama camp decides to create since they cannot understand their candidate's lack of qualification.
PUMA!
Good deal. I hope that Obama asked this guy to resign. If Obama is going to set a standard, and criticize others, he needs to follow his own standards.
This is non-news! Has mainstream Media forgotten that the clown who headed up Dumbya's VP selection was Shotgun Dick Cheney, who chose himself...
Another example of unwarranted Republican attacks forcing a highly qualified individual to step down. Johnson wasn't Obama's close friend and advisor. He was never going to be involved in the administration. He has no influence, nor would he have had any influence on policy. He's just a volunteer Obama brought on to be part of a commitee that would research and provide a list of potential VP's. The Republicans have shown that they will stop at nothing to tear Obama down, no matter how petty issue is.
StuPid. I support Obama, but what this guy is claiming to have done is NOTHING and certainly doesn't detract from his ability to help select a VP. Nonetheless, it is amazing how few people have clean hands in business and politics.
Saddening.
Another example of Obama's stellar selection of friends to serve in high places.
AHAHAHAHA ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! OBAMA YOU LOSER. YOUR SUCH A SCREW UP, HOW MANY OF YOUR CABINET ARE YOU GOING TO FIRE DUE TO YOUR LACK OF JUDGEMENT. HE HIRES SHADY PEOPLE CAUSE THATS THE KINDA PERSON HER IS. WHAT A MORON AND YOUR SHEEP ARE JUST AS STUPID AND MORONIC AS YOU . MAN WE ARE IN FOR A ROUGH ROAD. I THINK I WILL WRITE IN CLINTON AS WELL. ALL CLINTON SUPPORTERS SHOULD WRITE IN CLINTON, YOU DON'T HAVE TO VOTE FOR HIM OR MCcAIN. WRITE CLINTON IN ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! DON'T FOLLOW THE SHEEP OVER THE CLIFF! ! ! ! !
Another one bites the dust , Rovians are out to do damage. Not to worry when the time comes we will not be fooled.
Coming out to vote, that is the only way.
That is not too bad, losing one member afterall mccain is using google to vet his vp list, Don't know if he actually knows how google works.
Rovians are vetting the vetters, Not to worry most of those on the list will vet themselve out anyway
Go Dems
Good judgement by Obama campaign. Keep it up!
i think its important that we hire vetters to vet the vetters vetting running mates. and just so we dont miss anything, we should also hire vetters to vet those vetting the vetters vetting the vetters......
Stupid, Barack, really stupid. This is just what you need now with Clinton supporters going over to McCain (also stupid). If you are going to think carefully about a running mate, you must first do likewise with your search committee.
OH, let's not forget about all the lobbyist ties that McCain's campaign has going!! The fact that they are still working for him is pathetic. Johnson was volunteering his time just to gather info. There is no conflict of interest there. This is so stupid.
Another one under the bus.
He can't do even a simple thing like that without strring the pot.
Oh bama how are you ever going to run against republicans?
May be running away from republicans.
Democrats are so stupid to select this guy
JOHN MCCAIN NEEDS TO SEVERE HIS OWN TIES TOOO.
!!!POT CALLLING KETTLE BLACK
GOOD LUCK MR. JOHNSON , IT SAYS A LOT ABOUT YOUR INTEGRITY . OBAMA FOR PRESIDENT. GOOD JOB CNN, KEEP IT REAL
The media and their antics should be happy...
John McSame Sucks
More guys with shady pasts surrounding Barack. At some point the character of a man is measured by the company he keeps.
Rezko, Wright, Ayers, Phleger, Kalidi, now the head of his VP team resigns because he has made millions off of the very company Obama castigated repeatedly over the last few months.
He either needs to open his eyes or he needs to choose his friends more wisely.